A madrasa student in Barisal has committed suicide by setting herself on fire after facing recurrent sexual harassment.
The incident took place at Jahapur village of Babuganj Upazila on Thursday morning, said Babuganj police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mahbubur Rahman.
The deceased, 16, was a seventh grader at Jahapur Dakhil Madrasa.
The mother of the deceased said one Rakib Fakir, 30, of neighbouring Thakurmallik village, had been proposing love to her daughter for a long time.
After being rejected several times, Rakib sexually harassed her in various ways.
The girl’s family informed Rakib's family members about the matter and demanded justice. Enraged by this, Rakib increased the level of sexual harassment.
On January 21, the mother went to Rakib's house and warned him for the last time and threatened to take legal recourse. After that, Rakib threatened to gang-rape the girl over a phone call.
Frustrated by the threat and the continuous harassment, the girl tried to commit suicide by pouring kerosene on her body the same day.
Later, her family members rescued her and admitted her to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.
When her condition deteriorated there, she was admitted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. But she was taken back home after a few days due to the family’s financial crisis, even though her condition had deteriorated, said her mother.
She died at her home at around 8am on Thursday.
The body was sent to the hospital for autopsy, said the OC. Preparations were underway to file a case in this regard, he added.
